I spent last week playing with the just announced Nokia E71 and the E66 and I'm charmed with their extremely high build quality and elegant design, high-end tech specs and, despite their business character, decent multimedia and 'general use' capabilities. Featuring high-end ARM11-based 369 MHz Freescale CPUs, 128 MB RAM, built-in A-GPS receivers, 3.5G connectivity, decent 3.2 Megapixel AF cameras (with somehow crippled video recording) and some nice updates on the software front, they are a great choice for both business and private users. Read my Nokia E71 review (based on a pre-sales model, to be enhanced and updated shortly once I get a final device) for more details and impressions about the E71, and stay tuned for my Nokia E66 review coming later this week.

Today at the Nokia for Business event, Nokia announced two new, long awaited Eseries phones: the E66 and the E71.

Nokia E66 is a direct successor to the E65, a slider phone with 240x320 pixel screen, based on Symbian OS 9.2, S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1. Featuring HSDPA/UMTS, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, WLAN b/g, 3.2 Megapixel AF camera, FM radio, built-in Assisted GPS and accelerometer, ARM11-based Freescale processor running at 369 MHz, 128 MB operating memory (RAM), 128 MB internal storage and microSD memory card slot, it doesn't leave much to be desired. With its highly elegant and very durable stainless steel casing and very well working spring-loaded slider, it's also a serious upgrade to the plasticy E65 when it comes to build quality, design and ergonomics.

Nokia E71, despite its name, with its large 320x240 display and Blackberry type QWERTY keyboard, is a successor to the E61/E61i rather than the E70. It has very similar technical specs to the E66 (3.2 MPix camera, A-GPS, HSDPA/UMTS, WLAN, 128 MB RAM, etc.) and the only difference (except for the design/form factor, of course) seems to be lack of accelerometer. Just like the E66, the E71 represents very high build quality, with solid, stainless steel (dark-silver painted) frame around the front side, durable metal battery cover on the back and high quality keyboard with nearly perfect tactile feedback.

Both the E71 and the E66 come preloaded with support for VPN, Microsoft Exchange (Mail for Exchange mobile email client), data encryption, dictionaries, QuickOffice 4.x suite, Nokia Intellisync Wireless Email solution as well as third party email solutions like System Seven and Visto Mobile.

Both devices (priced at around EUR 350 before taxes and subsidies) will start shipping in July and will be available in black and white versions. More information: press release, press kit, picture gallery (E66, E71), E71 product page, E66 product page, presentations of the E66 and E71.